Automated Budget Authorization ABA UNT Budget Office budget.unt.edu

Agenda Objective Understanding the difference between ABAs and IDTs Completing an ABA Reviewing a Completed ABA Approving an ABA Finding an ABA in Cognos

Objectives Training objectives. Identify when to submit an ABA versus an IDT, Identify where to submit ABAs in EIS and recognize the basic elements of an ABA, Select the appropriate From/To account, Find the ABA workflow screen and appropriately identify where the ABA is in routing, Find denial comments and understand how to edit and resubmit a denied ABA, Identify how to approve an ABA using the Worklist, and Find a processed ABA journal in Cognos.

ABAs and IDTs

ABAs and IDTs Automated Budget Authorization (ABA) A request to transfer funds or to move budget from one chartstring to another chartstring or from one D-Level account to another D-Level account. Processed by the University Budget Office. Electronic Interdepartmental Transaction A request to move a specific expense or revenue, or to purchase services from an internal cost center on campus. Processed by the Controller’s Office. Paper

ABAs and IDTs Budgetary Chartstrings are those with a Fund Cat = 105, 120, 200. On Budgetary Chartstrings, ABAs are used to move funds in the Budget column. IDTs are used to move specific revenues or specific expenses (invoices, pcard charges, etc) in the Actual column. A B I D T

ABAs and IDTs Non-Budgetary Chartstrings are those with a Fund Cat = 202 or higher On Non-Budgetary Chartstrings, ABAs are used to move funds from the Total Balance. IDTs are used to move specific revenues or specific expenses (invoices, pcard charges, etc) in the Actual column. I D T ABA

ABAs or IDTs When determining whether to submit an ABA or an IDT, first determine who is performing the activity. The chartstring performing the activity and/or responsible for the expense should carry the expense regardless of how that activity is being funded. EXAMPLES $100 of Engineering’s telecom charges post to Parking. An IDT should be submitted to move the expense to Engineering because the expense belongs to Engineering. HR is hosting a Staff Appreciation lunch. Departments across campus are encouraged to donate funds to help cover the cost. Departments should submit ABAs to transfer funds to HR – the expense belongs to HR, departments are just helping support the event. The Budget Office has a deficit on their D5251 – Travel line and a surplus of funds on D5301 – Materials & Supplies. An ABA would be processed to move funds from D5301 to D5251 to cover the deficit.

Completing an ABA

Demo

Access the ABA 1. Access the ABA in the EIS portal (myfs.unt.edu).

Completing an ABA 2. Click on the ABA Form button.

Completing an ABA 3. Click on the Add button.

Completing an ABA Budget Transfer Type The Budget Transfer Type allows users to mark the ABA as Permanent or Adjustment. Adjustment: Funds are transferred on a one-time basis. Permanent: Funds are permanently transferred to a new chartstring so that the transferring department’s budget is reduced in both the current year and in subsequent years. Permanent transfers can only be performed on transfers between Budgetary Chartstrings. Budgetary chartstrings are those containing a Fund Cat equal to 105, 120, 200.

Completing an ABA Authorization Description The Authorization Description is the overall name of the ABA. This is not the description that will appear in Cognos. Multiple transfer requests (“lines”) can be submitted on a single ABA Form. The Authorization Description is the overall description for all the lines on an ABA Form.

Completing an ABA Authorization Description Try to use a unique description for each ABA Form so that you will be able to easily find that ABA in EIS in the future.

Completing an ABA Journal Line Description Justification The Justification is what generates the Journal Line Description and is what will be in Cognos. It is an auto-populated field limited to 30 characters. The first 5 characters contain the Transfer ID (aka ABA number). The next 25 characters are pulled from the first 25 characters of the Justification Justification The Justification box allows up to 250 characters and should be used to describe the ABA. Detailed descriptions ensure that all approvers in the Workflow, including the University Budget Office clearly understand the purpose of the ABA. This helps approvers identify any issues on the front end, rather than after the ABA is processed. The first 25 characters will appear in Cognos. As such, ensure the first 25 characters convey the purpose of the ABA. Use the remaining 225 characters to enter a detailed description.

Completing an ABA

Entering the Chartstring From Source & To Destination From Source is the chartstring sending the money. To Destination is the chartstring receiving the money. If a chartstring contains a Project value, the PC BU and Activity fields must be completed for that chartstring. From Function and To Function are required. EIS will allow the ABA to go through without a Function, but the University Budget Office will deny it.

Non-Budgetary or Project (Fund Cat ≠ 105, 120, 200) Selecting an Account From Account & To Account The account to use depends on whether the chartstring is budgetary (Fund Cat = 105, 120, 200) or not. The From and To chartstrings should be considered independently. For example, if the From Source chartstring is non-budgetary, use 70001 as the From Account. If the To Destination chartstring is budgetary, use a D-level account as the To Account. FROM SOURCE Chartstring: Budgetary (Fund Cat = 105, 120, 200) Enter the D-Level Expense Account Non-Budgetary or Project (Fund Cat ≠ 105, 120, 200) Enter 70001 **For sponsorships only, Enter 70005** TO DESTINATION Chartstring: Enter 70003 **For sponsorships only, Enter 70007**

Adding lines to an ABA You can process more than one transfer on an ABA by adding lines to the ABA. This can be done by clicking the plus sign in the right corner.

Adding lines to an ABA Tips to decrease processing times when adding multiple lines Limit lines to those that share the same workflow If the ABA is lacking a single approval all ABA lines will be delayed Limit the ABA to less than 10 lines If any part of the ABA cannot be processed, the entire ABA (all lines) will be denied. Limit transfers between multiple Fund numbers on a single ABA Transfers between multiple Funds require manual entries. When submitting an unusual transfer request, limit additional lines (unless the additional lines are similar). When research is required, the entire ABA (rather than the particular line) will be delayed

Submitting an ABA Save & Preview Approvals – Submit for Approval Click on “Save & Preview Approvals” to save the ABA and see who the ABA will route to for approval (the Workflow). Click on “Submit for Approval” to submit the ABA for approval.

Workflow Reviewing Workflow Click on “Save & Preview Approvals” to save the ABA and see who the ABA will route to for approval. Click on “Submit for Approval” to submit the ABA for approval.

Approving

Approving an ABA To approve an ABA you must go through your Worklist The Worklist is located in the top right corner of EIS. Once you click on the Worklist you will see all ABAs pending your approval. Click on the hyperlink to pull up an ABA for approval.

Approving an ABA Review the transfer then Approve or Deny. Please note that a comment must be entered if an ABA is denied.

Finding an ABA in EIS

To Find ABAs 1. From the Main Menu in EIS, select Campus Self-Service > Transfers (Budget & IDT) > ABA IDT Entry. A new page will appear. 2. Click on the ABA Form button. A new page will appear. 3. Click on the Find Existing Value tab.

Denial Comments To find a denial comment: Find the ABA, and go to the approvals page Find the line that has “View/Hide Comments” Click on the View/Hide hyperlink

Edit & Resubmit an ABA To pull back an ABA once submitted or to reuse a previously submitted ABA, pull up your ABA and click on Recycle Transfer. ABAs can only be recycled one time. On the next screen click on “Return to Entry Page” located at the bottom of the page Make necessary changes and Submit ABA for approval.

Finding an ABA in Cognos

Find a Processed ABA Journal in Cognos The line description will include your ABA # and the first 25 characters of the ABA description. Please note: Depending on the type of transfer there could be several entries associated with one ABA. All lines will include the same line description.

Budget Website > Resources > Documents Helpful Documents Budget Website > Resources > Documents Budget Management Documents 1. Valid Fund Category & Fund Combinations 2. Requisition Category Codes 3. Closing Rules 4. 9.2 Budgetary Accounts 5. Common Terms 6. Common Journal Headers

Questions?

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